Apparatus and method for making ice cream



Oct. 23, 1934.

c. sTEENsTRUP 1,978,176 APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR MAKING ICE] CREAM Filed June 12, 192s Invenfor' Christian SfeensTr-up,

` .6 ring the mixture.

Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED .STA-Tes.

maarre` ArrAnA'rUs'ANn mamon ron meenam Christian Steenstrun, Schenectady, N. Y., as-- signor .to lGeneral 'iiilectric Company, a corporation io! New York l arrecati@ Jane (12,: 1112s, .serial No. 2st-.743

^ incanta; (cLlez-f-im My inventionrelates toanapparatus and meth'- od for makingl ice cream .or the like :by the .use of le, refrigerator l.having a refrigeratingsystem associated therewit 6 Household refrigerators of this :kind have v4not generally provided, heretofore,- .any arrangement for makingice cream or the like. requiring -stirringxdllling freezing the sameigbecause the systems have not had suicient refrigerating capac 10 ity to lower the. temperature of the mixture for making ice cream to that desired for freezngand, at the same time, absorb the .heat evolved'in stirring. Moreover, arrangements that have-been proposed for -the pul'DOSe required considerable 16 modic'ation of the refrigerators :and cannot -for this reason be' applied to refrigerators 'that'are already ih use. In some instances :it may fhave beenpossible to make ice cream .by the use of the system of a refrigerator 'of this kind, .but .expe- 20 rienceghasshown that theice-creamcould'not be properly frozen, and it .was frozen atall, the time required is several hours, which-,isunreasonably long. For this reason, it has sheen, hereto-v fore, entirely .impracticable -to make ice cream `in-.sucha refrigerator.

Thel object of my invention is -toprovide an apparatus and method for mak-ing ice v.creanror' the like'z'by utilizing the refrigeratingsystem 'of a refrigeratonsnch as .used'forhouseho1d vpur- S poses, without modification of its -usual 'con-I struction. I' accomplish this byproyiding anapparatus, which lis .adapted to be .used-infconne tion vvviththe'e ordinary refrigerator having..a re;

frigerating system associated therewith,. com-'. prising' a negative vheat .storage -device incl-udine a receptacle having. ,a sealed 'chamberfsurroun'd ing the sarnecontaining .any-suitabiereezing' solution. .The quantity of freezingsolution'fis such 'that' when .it is ,frozen in the refrigerator lo to form, a mushy ice the negative heat 'storage'- .fsmallfthatit cannotbe sed.for making `icecream capacity thereof will vhe lgreat .enough -ztor-lower the .temperature ofgthemixture for-avmakingvice cream or the like to the .desired ifreczing:tensl-r perature, and also absorb the-heat evolved inzstirf- Theparticuar method which -I employ in making ice-cream by theiuse tif-.this apparatus, 'compiisesfoling 'thesolutionn .a chamber ."alranged'dn the freezing compartment of the refrigerator, .removing the .chamber -frf'om o the refrigerator, placing the mixture for;making ice cream in .heat .exchange 'relation-with .the cooled solution so as to utilize the. reirigerating eiect of the same for freezing-themixture, and4 stirring the mixture during --freezingthe-same.A

i My invention'will be more fully setforth` in the out with'partiomarity in the .claims-.annexed to -a receptacle used for following description referring tothe accent-. panying dr'awine'.` 'a'nd the features of noveltyA which characterize. my invention wil1 be pointed. a;

and--iorminga-part of thisl-speei'iication.' .60

1n-the drawing, Fig. I is .a verticalsectional view -of the receptacle which .I employ in making ficacreamgand of thestirling device whichis -used dunng'ffreezing'operation; Fig. 2 is a transf vers'esection 'ofjthereeeptacIeshown in Fig. 1 6D Fig. 3"-is` a vertical 'sectional viewof a modified -form of receptacle whichlmay employ. and

4 is -a'ff'ront elevation of. a refrigerator showingmaking ice .arranged in the unit of the refrigerator. 70 Referringto the drawing. the apparatus which.

I have shown' for making ,ice cream or .the like known forms of refrigeratorshaving Aa -refriger-tatingv System associated therevsfith.... 4 The par- 75 `ticule'ir"refrigerator 'which tI haveshown, for con.

-venie'nce-"in illustration (Fig'... 4),. comprises -.-a

cabinet i"o .having a' eoolingiinitf'ii. therein to ting unit' 1 1y are shown in myapplication, .Serial `o1'vthe j ,1'i esent application.

a refrig' tor ofthis the refrigerating. 4capacity of the systememployed therewith can -be used.' orina-king ice" cubes or certain frozen- L'clesserts that dol not-require stirring. However, I

'the ref-rigerating capacity of the system iS- SC: .U5-

4'or fthe-like Ireq-iiiring.; stirring, because .the refrigsay' one or two quartato the proper l.freezing temperature iis greater than' the- .refrigerati11g-capacity ofthe system. I

`In accordance invention, 'II-.provide a negativehe'a't storage device having sufficient can 2105 y.pacityfto absorb the .heat required. .to lower the ..teinpera ture ofthe mixture for makingiee-cream :tothe 'desired freezing Atemperature and-alsoab- -sorb the heat evolved in stirring the mixture during freezing the same. In the use of this .de-

vice it.is rst cooled in a refrigerator several hours before" the ice cream is made, removed from the refrigerator, and then arranged in heat exchange relation with the mixture for making ice cream, a suitable stirring device being provided for stirring the mixture during freezing of the same. The particular form of negative heat storage device which I have shown in this instance comprises a receptacle 14 for containing the mixturefor making ice cream having a sealed chamber 15 surrounding the same containing a suitable freezing solution 16 of sufficient quantity to provide the necessaryf negative heat storage capacity upon being cooled to the temperature to which it can belowered in the cooling unit of the refrigerator. Thefreezing solution may be of any suitable substances, but I have found that the proportions by weight of a solution of glycerin 20 and water 8.0.,lor.potas slum carbonate 18 and water '100, is satisfactory.

When the negative heat storage device'is arranged in the cooling unit 11 to the refrigerator Apreparatory to making-ice' cream, it is desirable to cool the freezing solution 1 6 as rapidl'yas possible-.f AI' have, therefore, provided means in the chamber 15 extending from the outer wall there- "of toward the wall'of the" receptacle 14. but in spaced relation thereto which will, transmit heat from thesolution to the outer wall of the chamber -15 adjacent the walls of the cooling unit. In theparticuIar form ofthe receptacle shown in Figs. 1f land 2, this-means comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending ns 1 7 attached tothe outer' wall of the chamber and extending in spaced'relaton to the wall of the receptacle..

After -the negative-heat storage device containing the freezing solution vin the chamber 15 is cooled'in the'cooling unitA of the refrigerator and.

reniovedA therefrom for making ice cream, it is also desirable that the heat transferred from the mixture for making ice cream in the receptacle 14, and the heat evolved`in stirring the same, should be quickly transmitted to thefreezing solution 16. For this purpose I arrange means in the chamber 15 extending from' the wall ofthe receptacle 14 in spaced relation to the outerwall of the chamber for conducting heat from the re.-

ceptacle toA the solution in the, chamber. This.

meansc'omprises a plurality o ffflns 18 vextending longitudinally of the'receptacle 14 on the outer wall thereof and into the chamber 15. The dns 18r extend between the fins 17 and in spaced `rela4` tion to the wall. of the chamber' 15. The nega'- tive heatstorage `device isV provided with means for supporting a dasher in the receptacle during the freezing operation which comprises a mem ber 19 welded in openings in the bottom of the receptacle 14` and the chamber 15.having a support l20 forth'e 'dash'er and also a socket 21 therein to forma'drivingconnectionwith the stirring device.v l

It is to be'understood, however, that inv the construction of the negative heatstorage device the arrangement'iof the heat conducting means may be vvaried as desired.` A modication is shown, for' example, in Fig` 3 comprising areceptacle 14'Ihavinga chamber 15' surroundingthe same provided 'with a helical. iin 18' 4extending from'the'wall of `the receptacle into the chamber 15 in spaced relation to the outer wall thereof for conducting heat from the receptacle to the freezing solution therein. A helical n 17', extending from the outer wall of the cham-4 ber in spaced relation to the wall of the receptacle 14' is also provided for conducting heat-from the receptacle to the freezing solution. This negative heat storage device is provided with a member 19 which is welded in openings in the bottom of receptacle -14' and the outer wall of the chamber 15 respectively, having a support for a dasher in the receptacle 14' and also a socket adapted to form a driving' connection with the stirring'devlce, .as in thestructure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I prefer to rotate the receptacle for the mixture for making ice cream and its surrounding chamber during the freezing operation and also stir the mixture in-the receptacle. This may be done Iin any convenient manner, but the construction whichI have shown for the purpose comprises a driving mechanism which is secured in any open- 'ingin'thebottomof a cylindrical container 22 supported in an opening 25 in the bottom of the.

containenzcomprisesa shaft 26 havinga squared end 27 adapted to support the negative heat storage device'and rotate the same byeng'aging"the,y socket 21 in a member 19 secured to the bottom thereof. 'I'he'shaft is driven by an electric motor 28 which is securedto the bottom of ,the cylin dricalcontainer 22 'andconnected to the shaft .26 by abelt 29,-worm 30 and the wheel 31 se. cured to the shaft. This driving mechanism is .arranged in a hollow cylindrical base member 32 which -is secured to the bottom of the container 22. In order to stir the mixture n the receptacle 14, a dasher 33 is supported in the bottom thereof at 19 andthe squared end 34 thereof extends through anopening 35 in a flanged 'cover'36 .which slidablyfits the mouth of the receptacle i4. AThe dasher is held Astationary by` a bracket 37 having a socket `38, which engages the squared end- 34 ofthe dasher, and which -is adapted to be connected tothe-container 22 by headedbolts 39 engaging .openings 40 in the bracket; It will thus be seenthatithe dasher will stir the mixture in the receptacle 14 during the freezing operation, as the dasher 33 is held stationary by the bracket 37 and the negative heat storage device including the receptacle 14 isrotated by the' motor.

In making ice cream or the likeby useof the apparatus Whichlhave describeda'novel 'method is. involved. In order to carry. out this method I first arrange'the-negative heat storage device'i'n the cooling unit of ythe refrigerator for' severall -hours'pr'i'or tothe time 'when it is desired to make ice cream which cools the freezing solution so as to form a-mushy ice. I then remove'the device from vthe refrigerator, place a mixture for making ice cream-or: the-like in heat exchange relation' with the solution so as t-o utilize the refrigerat'ing effect of the same forfreezing the'mixtuie, and

then-stir the'mixture during the freezing Opera-i tion. Indoing this by the, use of the construc- -tion which I have shown thefollowin'g steps are carriedout: First; I sulciently' cool 'the negative heat storage device in the cooling unit' 11 of the refrigerator to give the required negative heat storage capacity to freeze the mixture 4for making f icecream and also absorb the heat evolved in stirring the same. I-remove the device from the refrigerator and arrange the same 'in the heat insulated container 22 so "as to form a driving connectionwith the shaft 25 which is driven by the motor 28. Ithen'pl'ace'the mixture for makingthe icecream or the like in the receptacle14,

and after arranging the dasher 33, the cover 36 and the bracket 37 in place, I rotate'the negative storage ydevice and stir the mixture by operating the motor 23. "In this way I freeze the ice cream in ten minutes or so although the refrigerating capacity of the system is too small for the purpose.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an improved apparatus and method for making ice cream in a household refrigerator of any well known form in a comparatively short time, and I accomplish this without any change in the construction of the refrigerator.

Modifications of the construction and variations in the method which I have described will occur to those skilled in the art, so that I do not desire to be limited to the particular apparatus or method set forth exceptas defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A receptacle for making ice cream or the like, an outer Wall forming a sealed chamber surrounding said receptacle and containing a freezing solution, means extending from the wall of said receptacle into said chamber in spaced relation to the outer Wall for conducting heat from the receptacle to the freezing solution, and another means extending from the outer Wall of said chamber into the same in spaced relation to the wall of said receptacle for conducting heat from the solution in said chamber to cool the same.

2. A receptacle for making ice cream or the like, an uter wall forming a sealed chamber surrounding said receptacle containing a freezing solution, a fm arranged in said chamber and extending from the wall of said receptacle in spaced relation to the outer wall for conducting heat from said receptacle to the solution in said chamber, and another fin arranged in said chamber and extending from the outer wall thereof in spaced relation to the wall of said receptacle for conducting heat from the solution in said chamber to the outer Wall thereof.

3. A receptacle for making ice cream or the like, an outer wall forming a closed chamber surrounding said receptacle and containing a. freezing solution, a plurality of fins extending radially from said receptacle in spaced relation to the outer Wall for conducting heat from said receptacle to the solution in said chamber, and a plurality of other fins extending radially-'inward from the outer Wall of said chamber between said first mentioned fins and in spaced relation to the wall of said receptacle for conducting heat from the solution in said chamber to the outer Wall thereof.

4. A method of making ice cream or the like by the use of a refrigerator having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a freezing compartment in the refrigerator comprising, cooling a solution in a chamber arranged in the freezing compartment, removing the chamber from the refrigerator, placing the mixture for making ice cream or the like in heat exchange relation with the cooled solution so as to utilize the refrigerating effect of the same for freezing the mixture, and agitating the mixture during freezing of the same.

5. A method of making ice cream or the like by the use of a refrigerator having a refrigerating system associated therewith including a cooling unit in the refrigerator comprising, cooling a negative heat storage device, having a receptacle and a sealed chamber surrounding the same a mixture for making ice cream or the like in the receptacle in heat exchange relation with the Wall thereof so as to utilize the refrigerating effect of the cooled solution for freezing the same, and stirring the mixture during freezing of the same.

6. A method of making ice cream or the like by the use of a refrigerating system associated thereceptacle having a sealed chamber surrounding the same containing a freezing solution and heat conducting means extending into the chamber from the wall of the receptacle andthe outer wall of the chamber. respectively comprisingycooling the nega'tive heat storage device in the mixture during freezing of the same.

7. A freezing device of the character described comprising a container, a receptacle entirely enclosing said container, except at the top thereof, the sides of the receptacle being connected to the tainer, said chamber having a liquid therein, thev freezing the container, and a refrigerating device having a recess adapted toreceive said receptacle and to reduce the temperature of the liquid in said chamber to the desired point.

9. A freezing device of the comprising a container having a stirring device a closure for the top end thereof, a receptacle temperature of the liquid therein to the temperature required to freeze the contents of the container.

10. A freezing device of the character described having a stirring device and a closure for the top end thereof, a receptacle entirely enclosing said character describedl container, except at the.15o

top thereof, the sides of the receptacle being confrigerating tank having a recess therein open-ing nected to the sides of the container at the top to one side thereof and into which said receptacle ends thereof and providing a. liquid tight chamber is adapted to be-loosely fitted to reduce the temabout the sides and bottom of the container, said perature of the liquid in the receptacle to the 5 chamber having a low pointy freezing liquid theretemperature required to freeze the contents of the 80 on, a series of heat conducting ns extending becontainer. v tween the sides of the container and the sides o! CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP. the receptacle within said chamber, and a. re-

csxrlrlcim: or CORRECTION. i

Patent No. 1,978,176. A October 23, 1934.

CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP.

1t is hereby' certified that error appears in the printed lpecification'of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 91. for "any" read an; and page .3, line 36, claim 2, befor the word "containing" insert the word and; and that the said Lettera Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ottice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1935. f

Leslie Frazer (sul) Acting cminimr l mem sa g 11o o i nu as 4 l 13o top thereof, the sides of the receptacle being confrigerating tank having a recess therein open-ing nected to the sides of the container at the top to one side thereof and into which said receptacle ends thereof and providing a. liquid tight chamber is adapted to be-loosely fitted to reduce the temabout the sides and bottom of the container, said perature of the liquid in the receptacle to the 5 chamber having a low pointy freezing liquid theretemperature required to freeze the contents of the 80 on, a series of heat conducting ns extending becontainer. v tween the sides of the container and the sides o! CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP. the receptacle within said chamber, and a. re-

csxrlrlcim: or CORRECTION. i

Patent No. 1,978,176. A October 23, 1934.

CHRISTIAN STEENSTRUP.

1t is hereby' certified that error appears in the printed lpecification'of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 91. for "any" read an; and page .3, line 36, claim 2, befor the word "containing" insert the word and; and that the said Lettera Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ottice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1935. f

Leslie Frazer (sul) Acting cminimr l mem sa g 11o o i nu as 4 l 13o 

